Podcast | Marta Dusseldorp (Bay of Fires S2)

Podcast | Marta Dusseldorp (Bay of Fires S2) – In a windswept corner of Tasmania’s wild west coast, where danger hides beneath breathtaking scenery, Bay of Fires makes its explosive return for a second season—and with it, so does one of Australia’s most formidable creative forces: Marta Dusseldorp.

On this week’s episode of TV Central: One on One, we’re joined by the brilliant Marta herself—actor, producer, and co-Artistic Director of Archipelago Productions—for an in-depth conversation that dives deep into the world of Bay of Fires, the power of storytelling, and the vital role of culture in Australian life.

As Bay of Fires gears up for its season two premiere on Sunday 15 June at 8.00pm on ABC TV (with all episodes streaming on ABC iview), we revisit the unique blend of dark comedy and thriller that captivated viewers in its debut. Marta, returning as the fierce and flawed Stella, now finds her character juggling single motherhood, small-town politics, and the ever-looming threat of a criminal underworld.

But the stakes are higher now. The tone is darker. The danger more imminent. Season two doesn’t just pick up the threads of the story—it plunges headfirst into Stella’s past, exposing secrets and intensifying the emotional and physical risks for her and her family. And yet, at its core, Bay of Fires still brims with the same offbeat humanity that made it so original.

In this conversation, Marta reflects on the surprising mass appeal of a show she once thought might become a cult favorite, and shares how Tasmania isn’t just a setting—it’s a character, a muse, and a home. She opens up about working with her on-screen children, the evolution of Stella, and what it’s been like to shape narratives that push the boundaries of Australian television.

Topics we cover in this episode include:

📺 Whether the success of Bay of Fires exceeded expectations
🔄 A quick recap of where Season 1 left off and what’s ahead in Season 2
⚖️ The tonal shift to a darker, more dangerous world
🧩 Exploring Stella’s backstory and the return of familiar faces
💔 The emotional depth of scenes with Stella’s children, Iris and Otis
🌤️ Whether there’s any hope on the horizon for Stella and her family
🧭 Plans for Bay of Fires—will this be the final season or is there more to come?
🎭 The vision behind Archipelago Productions and what sets it apart
🎬 Marta’s approach to choosing bold and critically acclaimed roles
🌀 Reboots and revivals—what fans most want to see return
🌍 Why Tasmania is so creatively and personally important to Marta
🌟 The legacy Marta hopes to leave in Australian film, TV, and theatre

Whether you’re a long-time fan or just discovering the haunting, hilarious world of Bay of Fires, this conversation offers rare insight into the mind of one of Australia’s most influential creatives.

Bay of Fires – Sunday 15 June, 2025 at 8.00pm on ABC TV and ABC iview

TV Central ABC content HERE

Thanks to Kim Bassett for organising this podcast

Link to Marta Dusseldorp on Instagram HERE

Pick your player below. The podcast is also available through Apple Podcasts, Deezer, Amazon, iheart Radio and more

Bay of Fires

The highly anticipated eight-part, darkly comedic hit drama Bay of Fires returns for season two on Sunday 15 June at 8.00pm on ABC TV, with all episodes available to stream on ABC iview.

Showcasing Tasmania’s rugged west coast, season two opens with Stella (Marta Dusseldorp), now the boss of Mystery Bay while also juggling solo parenting and keeping her criminal overlords at bay.

Stella sees a glimmer of hope on the horizon. No one has tried to kill her for some months, she has Thursday date night with Jeremiah and Mystery Bay is prospering under her guidance – albeit in a somewhat chaotic fiscal manner. But such joys are short-lived when she and her kids find themselves sandwiched between an unhinged apiarist drug lord, a maniacal millenarian doomsday cult, the resurrection of her nemesis, Russia, and a growing civil war in the town. Slowly it dawns on Stella that she may be the cause of much of this nightmare. Perhaps the only way out is to go back to the source and blow it sky high.

Reprising their roles for season two are Toby Leonard Moore (Billions), Nicholas Bell (Scrublands), Bob Franklin (Please Like Me), Kim Ko (Utopia), Matt Nable (Plum), Roz Hammond (Irreverent), Pamela Rabe (Wentworth), Kerry Fox (The Dressmaker) Andre de Vanny (Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries), Ilai Swindells (Retrograde), Imi Mbedla (Australia’s Got Talent), Ava Caryofyllis (The Twelve), Emily Milledge (Fires), Elle Mandalis (The Twelve) and Ben Knight (White Fever). Joining the star-studded cast is Benedict Hardie (Total Control), Alex Dimitriades (Strife), Darren Gilshenan (Colin from Accounts), Katie Robertson (Rosehaven), Helana Sawires (Stateless) and Mabel Li (Safe Home).

Always free and Always entertaining, stream season one of Bay of Fires on ABC iview now.

Production Credits:

Bay of Fires season two is an Archipelago Productions and Fremantle Australia production for the ABC. Major production investment from Screen Australia, the ABC and Screen Tasmania in association with VicScreen. ABC Executive Producers Brett Sleigh, Alex Baldwin, Louise Smith and Rachel Okine. Executive Producers Andrew Knight, Brett Popplewell and Greg Sitch. Producers Marta Dusseldorp and Fiona McConaghy. Fremantle distributes the series internationally.